Follow the golden rule--treat others the way you want to be treated--be kind and respectful.
Follow the rules of writing you always do--capitalize, use punctuation, paragraph. Remember:
USING ALL CAPS IS JUST LIKE SHOUTING.
Stick to the topic. Don't go on and on and on and on and on and on. . . . whew!
Double check your facts.
Everyone can see what you are writing, so don't write anything you don't want people to see.
Check out these excellent blogging guidelines from Eastern Lancaster County SD, PA. They list questions for students to ask themselves before they submit a post or comment to figure out whether their posts are appropriate.
Most blogging netiquette guidelines will tell you:
Bloggers should cite their sources and link to their sources whenever possible.
When bloggers do make mistakes, they should admit their mistakes and correct them.
And of course, bloggers should invite dialogue over the content.
WWMT? or What Would Mom (or Dad) Think?
When posting online remember, WWMT if reading the post? Would they approve of what you are saying? Would you get in trouble if they saw what you posted?
For older students, here are things to keep in mind:
Once you post something online, it's almost impossible to take it back. Yes, you can delete posts, but by the time you decide you want to, someone has probably already seen it. Think about it before you post it.
Blogs as schoolwork are just that: schoolwork. Write a rough draft in Word first. Run spellcheck. Ask a friend to proofread it for you. Then, all you need to do is cut and paste it into your blog -- free of typos and ready to hit "Send"!
Responding to other people's posts is fun, but the same guidelines apply for responses: spellcheck, proofread, and really consider what you're saying before you post it. A little extra time spent on your work is never wasted
Participate: you'll get the most out of the discussion by not just reading everyone else's posts, but also adding your own.
Report Glitches: technology can always malfunction. If you are having a problem, more than likely someone else is as well.
Help Others: you may have some expertise to share.
Be Patient: read through all of the posts before posting to keep from repeating others. Also, don't expect a response within minutes. Allow people to read and ponder what you wrote.
Be Brief: this is a discussion, not a term paper. Get right to the point, and don't get too wordy.
Use Proper Writing Style: check spelling, grammar and sentence structure.
Cite Your Sources: as always, if its not yours, don't take the credit for it!
Respect Diversity: 'racists, sexist, and heterosexist comments and jokes are unacceptable.' (Quote taken from the above link.)
No Flaming: avoid rants, tantrums and profanity.
You Can't Un-Ring a Bell: think and proofread before you post.
More Resources
Netiquette: Cybersmart
This link has an interactive game that the students can practice making responsible decisions. (Geared for elementary level students)
Group A Activity 4-C-1 Drill Down Deeper Page
Blogs and Classroom Netiquette: Helpful Hints
For beginning bloggers, here are some helpful hints adapted from Thiellis Elementary in NY:
Check out these excellent blogging guidelines from Eastern Lancaster County SD, PA. They list questions for students to ask themselves before they submit a post or comment to figure out whether their posts are appropriate.
Most blogging netiquette guidelines will tell you:
WWMT? or What Would Mom (or Dad) Think?
When posting online remember, WWMT if reading the post? Would they approve of what you are saying? Would you get in trouble if they saw what you posted?
For older students, here are things to keep in mind:
For online discussions and comments, here are some ground rules to remember adapted from Netiquette:Ground Rules for Online Discussions
More Resources
Netiquette: Cybersmart
This link has an interactive game that the students can practice making responsible decisions. (Geared for elementary level students)
Bad Netiquette Stinks
Kid Smart
Blog